DG NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (right), presenting the Agency’s SRAP to the village CEO, Sunil Santanam (left)
The partnership between the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Entrepreneurship Village (eVillage) holds significant promise for fostering technology innovation and inclusivity in Nigeria. This collaboration not only reflects a commitment to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda but also resonates with the broader national agenda of accelerating diversification through industrialization and digitization.
The meeting between Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of NITDA, and Sunil Santanam, CEO of eVillage, underscores the strategic importance of leveraging digital infrastructure to drive innovation and transformation. By seeking the Agency’s intervention in providing digital infrastructure for the eVillage Innovation and Transformation Centre, eVillage aims to enhance its capacity to support technological advancements and entrepreneurial activities in the country.
Furthermore, this partnership aligns with the strategic objectives outlined by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, particularly focusing on the “Infrastructure” pillar aimed at accelerating the nation’s collective prosperity through technical efficiency. By collaborating with eVillage, NITDA contributes to the realization of these strategic objectives, thereby driving socio-economic development through digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
Director-General Inuwa’s enthusiasm for this collaboration highlights its alignment with NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024-2027). The pillars of Building a Robust Technology Research Ecosystem, Promoting Inclusive Access to Digital Infrastructure and Services, and Nurturing an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Ecosystem encapsulate the agency’s commitment to driving digital transformation and fostering a conducive environment for technological innovation and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
Overall, the partnership between NITDA and eVillage represents a significant step towards harnessing the transformative power of technology to drive economic growth, promote inclusivity, and position Nigeria as a leading player in the global digital economy.
“I see this as a potential technology development zone because when you talk about the technology development zone, it’s not about bringing big hardware or manufacturing equipment and so on, but bringing people together, creating the ecosystem that can ignite and spark conversation about technology on solving real-life problems”, he added.
Group photo of DG NITDA Kashifu Inuwa CCIE (5th right) with the CEO village, Sunil Santanam (3rd left) alongside members of staff of both organisations
Inuwa, while assuring the Agency’s support, views the proposed technology development zone as a pioneering initiative set to trigger significant transformative changes nationwide.
At the heart of the partnership proposal lies the rapid advancement of the technology development zone across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Inuwa revealed that all arrangements between the two organizations would be formalized through a memorandum of understanding.
Earlier in his address, Santanam expressed gratitude to the NITDA DG and his team for the opportunity to collaborate with the Village. He emphasized that the opportunities presented by the Village, if effectively utilized, could spur substantial development for the sizable youthful population and the broader entrepreneurship ecosystem.
“It is a step forward for Nigeria, a step forward for the youth of Nigeria, a step forward for the entrepreneurs of Nigeria and as far as infrastructure and the facilities that eVillage will be offering, we will be second to none in Africa”, he averred.
In her remark, the village’s Director of Initiatives and Partnerships, Joy Francis, shared insights on the Global Entrepreneurship Festival that would come up later in the year in November.
“the event will bring the global community to your doorsteps and also build a lasting entrepreneurial platform for the benefit of this generation and the coming ones”, she stated.
